1994 Micra on the kangaroo juice

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

GI Joe - 17 Nov 2006 10:20 GMT

Hi all,

Had been driving for around 30 minutes and was doing 40mph when the car
started kangaroo-ing. Slight pressure on the clutch made the car
driveable, but as soon as I took the foot off the angarooing started
again. Managed to get to work and called out RAC. Set off round the
block a few times, and after about 10 minutes in traffic the
kangarooing started again when I got up to about 30. It continued at
all speeds (and gears) until I arrived at work.

After about 30 minutes under the bonnet I was told it "could be any
number of things" (very helpful), but probably something wrong with the
distributor cap. At this time all garages were shut and the car was
towed home.

Anyone had any experience like this? Or any better ideas? It's up for
MOT and tax this month and depending on the probable cost of repair I
might be better off looking for a new car...

Reply to this Message

Willshak - 17 Nov 2006 13:18 GMT

> Hi all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
>

Your first clue is that the 'kangarooing' was eased when the clutch was
slightly pressed.
Sounds like clutch problems to me.
I assume you are in Australia (kangarooing, bonnet). In the US, a clutch
repair can be as much as $1000.
If you like the car otherwise, $1000 is a lot cheaper than years of car
payments.
By the way, what is RAC and MOT?

Signature

Bill
in Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, delete the double zeroes after @

Reply to this Message

Oso - 17 Nov 2006 15:56 GMT

>> Hi all,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> payments.
> By the way, what is RAC and MOT?

He ain't an Aussie, he is a Brit. The RAC is the Royal Automoble Club who
run a breakdown recovery service. MOT stands for Ministry of Transport
which no longer exists as that name but has come to mean the vehicle
roadworthiness test.

As to the most cost effective solution, take one glass bottle, half fill
with petrol, stuff the neck with a petrol soaked rag, you can guess the
rest. ;)

Signature

Fidei Coticula Crux

Reply to this Message

DemoDisk - 18 Nov 2006 00:40 GMT

"Oso" <osobear(beard)@(moustache)ntlworld.com> wrote...

> As to the most cost effective solution, take one glass bottle, half fill
> with petrol, stuff the neck with a petrol soaked rag, you can guess the
> rest. ;)

Hmm. Sounds like you might have done that before.

Was it effective..?

Reply to this Message

Oso - 18 Nov 2006 13:07 GMT

> "Oso" <osobear(beard)@(moustache)ntlworld.com> wrote...
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Was it effective..?

Never on a car but it was very effective on a Bosnian Serb BTR we wanted rid
of (but it did add some sugar to the mix for that). :p

Signature

Fidei Coticula Crux

Reply to this Message

SteveB - 18 Nov 2006 11:06 GMT

>> Hi all,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> payments.
> By the way, what is RAC and MOT?

Depressing the clutch slightly eases the load on the engine, this means
there's a chance it's the ignition as less loading means a lower voltage
will appear across spark plug gap. A lower voltage leads to less likely
breakdown and misfire if anything's on its last legs like HT leads, dizzy
cap, coil. Spray the leads and dizzy with WD40 to see if that helps.

Reply to this Message